Machine for applying adhesive



Dec. 21, 1937. 4 G. w. VON HOFE 2,102,984

MACHINE 0 FOR APPLYING ADHES IVE Filed Sept. 14, 1934 mi ml INVENTOR. 650 665 V14 m/v //0F ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 2 1, 1937 PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR APPLYING-ADHESIVE George W. von Hofe, Bound Brook, N. J., assignor to New Jersey Machine Corporation, Hoboken, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 14, 1934, Serial No. 743,929

1'7 Claims.

My invention relates to machines for applying adhesive to individual blanks such as wrappers, labels, paperor cardboard sheets, or to blanks for boxes, cartons, containers or the like.

The invention contemplates the provision of a novel apparatus of simple construction whereby a surface of the material being treated maybe coated with a predetermined pattern of adhesive or in other words whereby said adhesive may be efficiently and easily applied only to predetermined portions of said surface while other portions thereof remain uncoated with such adhesive in accordance with the purpose for which said material is to be used.

Other more specific objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

in the accompanying drawing, which illustrates an example of the invention without defining its limits, Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional view of a gumming machine with the novel features embodied therein; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the machine; Fig. 3-15 an enlarged detail section on the line 3-'-3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a face view showing an example of the product of the machine.

In the example of the gumming machine illustrated in a fragmentary manner in Fig. 1 of the drawing, 5 represents a conventional adhesive transferring roll carried by a shaft 6 and mounted in the machine in any customary manner, said roller 5 dipping into a supply of adhesive 1 contained in a reservoir 8 mounted in the machine in any usual way. An adhesive applying roll 9 is carried by a shaft l0 suitably journalled in the machine so as to locate said applying roll 9 in tangential receiving relation'to the transferring roll 5. It will be understood that the roll 9 is not necessarily in actual contact with the roll 5 and that said rolls 5 and 9 may be slightly spaced as indicated in Fig. 3 to accomniodate a coating of adhesive picked up by the roll 5 in its rotation through the bath 1; itwill of course be understood that in some machines the rolls 5 and 9 may be in actual tangential contact with each other.

The machine in addition may include one or more reversing blades ll of conventional type suitably contacting with the surface of the roll 9 and located in operative relation to a conveying belt l2 as illustrated in Fig. 1. A pair of feed rolls l3 and I are suitably journalled in the machine in delivery relation to a channel l5 having its exit end in operative relation to the surface of the roll 9, said rolls l3 and I4 being further positioned in receiving relation to an inclined guide l6 terminating at its lower end in receiving relation to a stack of sheets I! or their equivalent, carried by a suitable support in any conventional manner. For the purpose of delivering individual sheets or their equivalent in succession from the stack I! to the feed rolls l3 and M, a suitably operated suction means may be provided. In the example shown in the drawing this suction means consists of a suction head l0 l8 communicating through the medium of a suction tube I!) with a suitable source of suction, it being understood that any usual controlling means may be provided for controlling the I application of and discontinuance of the suction 16 in the head ill in properly timed relation to the associated elements of the machine. Asshown in the drawing the head I8 is carried by an arm 20 mounted upon a shaft 2| which in turn is provided with a member 22 pivotally connected 20 at 23 with a link 24; the latter is operatively combined with any conventional type of mechanism whereby the shaft 2| is suitably rocked to cause the suction head 18 to pick up successive sheets or their equivalent from the stack I1 and deliver 25 each sheet or its equivalent to the feed rollers l3 and I4, it being understood that the shaft 2| in addition to being rocked is capable of being reciprocated in vertical directions by the mechanism with which the link 24 co-operates.

The novel apparatus which constitutes the essential feature of the instant invention consists of an obstructing means which includes one or a plurality of obstructing devices located in advance of the transfer point at which the transfer 35 of adhesive from the roll 5 to the roll 9 takes place, said obstructing device or devices being arranged to lie in engagement with the surface of the transferring roll 5 preferably in the entering'angle between the rolls 5 and 9; in ad- 40 dition the aforesaid apparatus includes mechanism whereby said obstructing device or devices is or are periodically moved out of contactwith the surface of the transferring roll 5 to permit adhesive to be transferred therefrom to predetermined portions of the applying roll 9.

In its illustrated form the novel apparatus consists of arms 25 located at opposite ends of the adhesive'applying roll 9 and pivotally movable about the axis of said roll 9 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; a rod 26 is carried by said arms 25 in parallel relation to the rolls 5 and 9, and has mounted thereon the obstructing means which in the illustrated form consists of a plurality of devices 2! located in contiguous relation to each other and fixed in place on the rod 26 by means of collars 28 secured in position through the medium of set screws 29, or in any other suitable manner. The number and arrangement of the obstructing devices 21 may be varied from the arrangement shown and is always such as to predetermine the manner in which the adhesive is to be transferred from the roll 5 to the roll 9; in other words, the arrangement of the obstructing device or devices 21 predetermines the pattern of the adhesive which is automatically produced upon the surface of the applying roll 9 and which adhesive pattern in turn is reproduced upon the surface of the sheet H or its equivalent which passes over the surface of the roll 9 as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In theexample shown in the drawing each obstructing device 21 is provided with one curved surface a conforming to and adapted to permanently engage the surface of the adhesive applying roll 9, said surface (1. preferably being recessed as indicated at b to reduce the area of the engaging surface and thus to correspondingly eliminate unnecessary friction. In addition each obstructing device 21 includes a second curved surface adapted to rest upon or engage the surface of the 4 transferring roll when said obstructing device or devices 21 is or are in the operative position indicated by solid lines in Fig. 3.

The curved surface 0 is preferably provided with an open ended recess d adapted to receive adhesive to bring a supply thereof into proximity to the apex e of each obstructing device in order to expedite the transfer of the adhesive from the roll 5 to the roll 9 when such transfer is. desired. The periodic movements of the obstructing means to move the device or devices 21 out of contact with the roll 5 to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig'. 3 and back again may be of any suitable character and may be effected by any mechanism suitable for the purpose intended; in the form shown, the means or mechanism consists of a lever 30 connected with one of the arms 25 and provided at its free end with a roller 3| in operative engagement with a suitably formed cam 32 mounted upon a shaft 33 and rotated in any conventional manner; preferably a spring 34 is provided for maintaining the roller 3| in rolling engagement with the cam 32, it being understood that this spring 34 may be omitted if the construction of the mechanism being described does not require the same.

In the operation of the gumming machine the sheets H or their equivalent are picked up in individual succession from the top of the stack by the suction head l8 and are shifted by the operation of the suction head l8, to the feed rollers l3 and I4, it being understood that the suction in the tube I9 is controlled in a manner to release each sheet 11 or its equivalent as soon as the feed rollers I3 and I4 have become operatively effective thereon. The action of the feed rollers l3 and I4 causes each sheet I! or its equivalent to be fed through the passage l5 into contact with the surface of the roll 9 and to be carried by the latter in its rotation in the direction of the arrow until the reversing blade or blades ll strip the same from said roll 9 and deflect it toward the conveyor belt l2 by which each sheet IT or its equivalent is carried off for further operative manipulation. During these operations the rotation of the cam 32 by acting on the lever 3|], will periodically move the obstructing device or devices 21 outof contact with the roll 5, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and subsequently will restore said device or devices 21 into engagement with the surface of the roll 5. As long as the device or devices 21 occupy a position in engagement with the surface of the roll 5, as indicated by solid lines in Fig. 3, the adhesive picked up by the roll 5 in its travel through the bath 1 will enter the recess d and will be prevented from being transferred to the roll 9 by the closed end of said recess d, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3; it will of course be understood that in some instances the recess 11 may be omitted in which case the obstruction to' the transfer of the adhesive will be effected\by the end f of the device 21 which in such casehnay be made of relatively less Width in the circumferential direction of the roll 5 than is indicated in the illustrated example. As soon however as the cam 32 in its rotation acts on the lever 30 in a manner to shift the device or devices 21 out of contact with the roll 5 to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the obstruction to the transference of the adhesive will be removed and the adhesive on the surface of the roll 5 will accordingly be carried along by saidroll 5 and be transferred to the surface of the applying roll 9; the adhesive carried by the roll 9 will in turn be transferred to the surface of a sheet I! or its equivalent which travels in contact with the surface of the roll 9 during its rotation in the manner previously described.

It will be obvious as the device or devices 2'! is or areperiodically moved into and out of contact with the surface of the roll 5 that the transfer of adhesive from the roll 5 to the roll 9 will be periodically arrested and renewed in a corresponding manner so as to produce upon the surface of the applying roll 9 an adhesive pattern of predetermined characteristics dependent upon the result to be accomplished. This adhesive pat-' tern 'will be reproduced upon each successive sheet IT or its equivalent as said sheets or the like'travel over the surface of the roll 9. By changing the character and arrangement of the obstructing devices 21 on the rod 26 the adhesive pattern ultimatelyproduced on the sheets I! or their equivalent may be varied to meet the requirements of any operation for which the machine may be designed; the characteristics of the adhesive pattern may also be varied by substituting cams of varying. contours for the cam 32 shown in the illustrated example. A specimen of the.adhesive pattern as produced upon the sheets I! or their equivalent is illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing in which g represents the adhesive coated portions of the sheets or their equivalent and h the uncoated portions thereof.

In existing machines an equivalent result has been attempted by first applying a coating of adhesive to the entire surface of the adhesive applying roll and then removing or scraping a portion or portions of said adhesive coating from said applying roll before the latter comes into engagement with the sheets or their equivalent to which the adhesive is to be applied. These existing arrangements are not only complicated in construction and operation but are inefficient for the purpose intended and in many instances permit traces vof adhesive to remain on those portions of the applying roll which are intended to be. free from adhesive; this brings about inefficient and objectionable results in the application of adhesive to the sheets or equivalent material on which the machines of existing type are operating. In the instant arrangement the adhesive is prevented from reaching those parts such adhesive so that the predetermined adhesive pattern is clearly defined while the intended uncoated portions of the applying roll remain absolutely clean and uncoated with adhesive so thatthe sheets I! or their"equivalent are provided with a correspondingly clean cut adhesive pattern with the intended uncoated portions of the sheets I! or their equivalent entirely free from any suggestion of adhesive as will be apparent.

By making the curvedsurfaces c of the devices 21 of considerable extent in the direction of the circumference of the roll and by providing the recess d therein, an adequate and efficient bearing engagement is possible between the devices 21 and the surface of the roll 5 and at the same time the adhesive on the roll: 5 is permitted to travel into close proximity to the apex e of each device 21 so that when the latter is moved out of contact with the roll 5 to the dotted position in Fig. 3, the transfer of adhesive to the roll 9 will immediately begin as soon as the transfer point is reached. By constructing the devices 21 with the curved surfaces a in permanent contact with the surface of the applying roll 9 and by developing the operative movements of the devices 21 about the axis of the roll 9, said devices 21 are positively and accurately guided in their movements into and out of engagement with the roll 5. The apparatus is accordingly very reliable in its operation and requires no particular skilled supervision on the part of any attendant, said apparatus being entirely automatic in its action.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a gumming machine including an adhesive transferring roll and an adhesive applyingroll located in tangential receiving relation to said transferring roll and adaptedto receive adhesive therefrom, that improvement which comprises arms pivotally mounted on the axis of said applyingroll, a rod carried by said arms in parallel relation to said rolls, a plurality of obstructing devices movably mounted on said rod and operatively adjustable in the entering angle be- .tween said rolls, a lever connected with one of I transfer point between said rolls,.arms pivotally mounted on the axis of said applying roll and carrying said obstructing, device, a lever connected with one of said arms, and a rotatable cam co-operating withsaid lever to periodically move said obstructing device into contact with said transferring roll to prevent adhesive from being transferred to predetermined portions of said applying roll.

3. In a gumming machine including an adhesive transferring roll and an adhesive applying roll located in tangential receiving relation 1 to said transferring roll and adapted to receive adhesive therefrom, that improvement which comprises a movable obstructing device operatively adjustable into surface engagement with said transferring roll in advance of the transfer point between said rolls, arms pivotally mounted on the axis of said applying roll and carrying said obstruction device, and means for automatically moving said obstructing device into contact with said transferring roll periodically to prevent adhesive from being transferred to predetermined portions of said applying roll.

4., In a gumming machine including an adhesive transferring roll and an adhesive applying roll located in tangential receiving relation to said transferring roll and adapted to receive adhesive therefrom, that improvement which comprises movable means adapted to engage the surface of said transferring roll for preventingv the transfer of adhesive to said applying roll, and mechanism for automatically moving said means into contact with said transferring roll period'- ically to prevent adhesive from being transferred to predetermined portions of said applying roll.

5. In a gumming machine including an adhesive transferring roll and an adhesive applying roll located in tangential receiving relation to said transferring roll and adapted to receive adhesive therefrom, that improvement which comprises automatic intermittently operated means for preventing the transfer of adhesive from the transferring roll to the applying roll and for permitting the transfer of adhesive to said applying roll whereby predetermined portions of the surface of the latter are coated with adhesive and other predetermined portions of the surface of said applying roll are uncoated with adhesive.

6. In a gumming machine including an adhesive transferring rolland an adhesive applying roll located in tangential receiving relation to said transferring roll and adapted to receive adhesive therefrom, that improvementwhich comprises automatic intermittently actuated means operating in advance of the transfer point for preventing the transfer of adhesive from the transferring roll to the applying roll and for permitting such transfer whereby a predetermined pattern of adhesive is formed on the surface of the applyingroll.

7. In a gumming machine including an adhesive transferringroll and an adhesive apply ing roll located in tangential receiving relation to said transferring roll and adapted to receive adhesive therefrom, that improvement which comprises an obstructing device having a curved surface conforming to and adapted to rest upon the surface of the transferring roll, said curved surface being provided with an open ended recess adapted to receive adhesive, and means whereby said obstructing device is periodically moved into contact with said transferring roll to prevent adhesive from being transferred to predetermined portions of said applying roll.

8. In a gumming machine including an adhesive transferring roll and an adhesive applying roll located in tangential receiving relation to said transferring roll and adapted to receive adhesive therefrom, that improvement which comprises an obstructing device having one' curved surface conforming to and permanently engaging the surface of the applying roll and another curved surface conforming to and adapted to engage the surface of the transferring roll, and means whereby the obstructing device is periodically moved about the axis of the ap plying roll into contact with said transferring roll to prevent adhesive from being transferred to predetermined portions of the applying roll.

9. In combination an adhesive transferring roll, an adhesive applying roll set at a predetermined distance from said transferring roll to allow adhesive to pass between said rolls, and secondary adhesive control means adjacent and in advance of the point of tangency of said rolls to prevent the passage '1 adhesive between said rolls at predetermined points to thereby form an adhesive pattern on the adhesive applying roll.

10. In combination an adhesive transferring roll, an adhesive applying roll set at a predetermined distance from said transferring roll to allow adhesive to pass between said rolls, secondary adhesive control means adjacent and in advance of the point of tangency of said rolls to prevent the passage of adhesive between said rolls at predetermined points to thereby form an adhesive pattern on the adhesive applying roll, and means for automatically adjusting said secondary adhesive control means to and from its operative position and vice versa.

11. In combination an adhesive transferring roll, an adhesive applying roll set at a predetermined distanc from said transferring roll to allow adhesive to pass between said rolls, secondary adhesive control means adjacent the point of tangency of said rolls, means to operate said secondary adhesive control means, and means to feed individual blanks in timed relation to the movement of said secondary adhesive control means and into engagement with said applying roll, thereby transferring an adhesive pattern to said individual blank.

12. In combination an adhesive transferring roll, an adhesive applying roll set at a predetermined distance from said transferring roll to allow adhesive to pass between said rolls, secondary adhesive control means adjacent the point of tangency of said rolls, means to operate said secondary adhesive control means, means to feed individual blanks in timed relation to the movement of said secondary adhesive control means and into engagement with said applying roll, thereby transferring an adhesive pattern to said individual blank, and means cooperating with said applying roll to strip the individual blanks therefrom and onto a movable surface.

13. In combination an adhesive transferring roll, an adhesive applying roll in tangential receiving relation therewith, and an obstructing device adaptedto fit the cuspidal area in advance of the point of tangency of said rolls to control the flow of adhesive passing between said rolls.

14. In combination an adhesive transferring roll, an adhesive applying roll in tangential receiving relation therewith, an obstructing device adapted to fit the cuspidal area in advance of the point of tangency of said rolls to control the flow of adhesive passing between said rolls, and automatic means to periodically move said obstructing device.

15. In combination an adhesive transferring roll, an adhesive applying roll in tangential receiving relation therewith, an obstructing device adapted to fit the cuspidal area at the point of tangency of said rolls to control the flow of adhesive passing between said rolls, means to periodically move said obstructing device, and means to feed individual blanks into engagement with said applying roll in timed relation to the movement of said obstructing device to create an adhesive pattern to be transferred to said individual blanks.

16. In a machine for applying adhesive to a sheet or web, a roller for applying the adhesive directly to said sheet, a roller for supplying adhesive to said applying roller, and means operative against said applying roller for cutting off a portion of the supply of adhesive from said supplying roller to said applying roller.

17.In a machine for applying adhesive to a sheet or web, a roller for applying the adhesive to said sheet, a roller'arranged in conjunction therewith for feeding adhesive thereto, and a member insertable between portions of said rollers and contacting at least one of said rollers for preventing the transfer of the adhesive from the surface of the feeding roller to a portion of the surface of the applying roller during a certain period.

GEORGE W. von HOFE. 

